Pressure regulator



Oct. 21, 1952 E. GROSBOLL PRESSURE REGULATOR 2 sums- HEET 1 Filed Dec. 28, 1945 Zarz'rzlf'raaoll,

Patented st. 21, 1952 Lorin E. Grosboll, Decatur, IlLQassignor to Mueller I (10., Decatur, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 28, 1945,seria1 No. 637,629

,The present invention relates to fluid pressure regulators. 1 i

Generally. in fluid. pressure regulators of the diaphragm typeza valve is. connected .with the diaphragmandopens or closes according to; thefluid pressures to which the diaphragm isvsub- --jected, said diaphragm being'madeof a material whichis flexible and relatively fragile. The valve is usually removable fromits connecting means with the diaphragm for repair or renewal, and,

since provision is made ifor ready accessto the valve, removal thereof can be accomplished without disassembling the regulator.-, Due to corrosion or other reasons, considerable manipulation or pressure is required to loosen and removecthevalve from itsconnecting means withthe' diavideo. a removable valve connected to a diaphragm. I

' In the drawings: v

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a fluid pressure regulator of the diaphragm type.

Figure 2 a vertical sectional view taken on substantially the line-22 of Figure 1.

. Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a regulator showing a modification of the invention, and f Figure 4 a horizontal sectional view taken on substantially the line 4-4 of Figure 3. Referring to the drawings, in which like numbars indicate like parts, In indicates a casing or andanoutlet I2, both of which are provided with threads to accommodate the usual line connec-- phragm, and such manipulation or pressurewis translated to the diaphragm, resulting in tension and strainwhich is likely todamage the diaphragm, Similarly, there is tension and strain on the diaphragm-when the valve is replaced. -As

will be evident, any injury to the diaphragm pauses inefficient operation if not complete inoperativeness of :the regulator, thus necessitating renewal of the diaphragm.

sure regulators of the-type here described is improper positioning of the connecting 'meansbetween the valve and the diaphragm when assem bling the regulator. or removing andreplacing thefvalve. For instance, where thelconnectlng' means comprises a yoke, the arms of which straddle an'inlet nipple'jor other part, it is' necessary that the yoke be prevented from becoming'positioned so. that it'will bind against or comein contact withthe'sides of the nipple and. thereby prevent free movement of the yoke. v

The primary object of the presentinvention is to prevent'any damage or injury to the diaphragm of a fluid. pressure regulator b'yreason of tension or strain thereon caused by removing and replacing thejv'alve of the regulator.

Anothergimportant object of the present, inventio'n'is re ss re proper positioning of 'the regulator 'parts, particularly the connecting means betweenthe valve and diaphragm solthat free movement of "Said: connecting means will be permitted. H I

other objects and'advantages will become apparent from the following specification and annexed drawings, which describe and illustrate the application ofthe invention to a well known p I Another difiiculty often encountered in presphragm and through an abutment plate 24, and

design of fluid pressure regulator of the diaphragm type. it should be understood that-the invention may be applied "equally aswell to other designs of'regulator wherein there-isprotions.

body portion of a regulator having an inlet H i From the inlet ll there extends a nipple I3 which forms'a chamber within the chamber of the'casing. The said nipple is provided with I a removable valve seat Hi.

The casing ID as herein illustrated comprises I two parts connected by screw threads 15 and between said parts is positioned a diaphragm l6 which is flexible and constructed of relatively fragile material.

A valve ll seats upon the valve seat I' l and is carried by a connector H3 or, as here shown, by

a yoke comprising arms I9 which loosely straddle the nipple l3. The valve is removable and may be secured in any suitable manner to the yoke, as by threads 20. Valves of this character are usually provided with suitable packing as fat 2| which seats directly on the valve seat.

At the lower end of the yoke is a base plate 22, a threaded plug 23 which passes through the diaa nut 25 which clamps the diaphragm between the base plate 22 and the abutment plate 23.

- 'A spring 26 is housed in the lower part of the "casing and bears against the said abutment plate,

thereby exerting pressure against the diaphra m. At the other end'iof the spring there is an abutment'disc 21 and an adjusting screw 28.

The casing, which is open at one end, has a closure cap 29 positioned above the valve which,

when removed, gives ready access to the valve side of the regulator for removal and replacement of the valve by means of tools provided for It will be further observed that recess at 30 tube-handled, the openingand closing of the valve will be automatic and quickly responsive to ing a chamber and having an inlet and an outlet,

said inlethaving a nipple positioned within the casing and provided with a valve seat, a diaphragm secured to the casing and positioned below said nipple, a yoke connected with the diaphragm, a valve removably secured to the yoke and movable in engagement with said valve seat, said nipple having a projection, said yoke having a groove normally spaced from said projection and arranged to engage the same, and

means for moving the groove into locking engagement with said projection so :as to remove the valve without subjecting the diaphragm to tension.

4. In a fluid pressure regulator, a casing having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet having a valve.

seat positioned within the casing, a diaphragm in said casing subject to the pressure of the fluid therein, a yoke connected with the diaphragm, a valve removably connected to the yoke and arranged to engage said seat, resilient means in said casing for urging the valve away from said seat, one of the walls of said casing and said yoke having a groove and the other of said walls and said 7 yoke having :a projection arranged to interlock with saicbgroove, said groove and projection being maintained out of interengagement during operation of the regulator and being movable into interengagement by said resilient means, when inlet pressure is cut off, to prevent transmission of damaging forces to said diaphragm when removing and replacing said valve.

5. In a fluid pressure regulator, a casing having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet having a valve seat positioned within the casing, a diaphragm in said casing subject to the pressure of the fluid.

therein, a yoke connected with the diaphragm, a valve removably connected to the yoke and arranged to engage said seat, resilient means in said casing for'urging the valve away from said seat, the inner wall of said casing adjacent the valve having spaced diametrically disposed grooves, and said yoke having diametrically spaced projections arranged to interlock with said grooves when the valve is moved away from its seat a distance greater than that occurring during operation of.

the regulator.

' LORIN E. GROSBOLL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 483,979 Foster Oct. 3, 1892 1,460,301 Wilkins June 26, 1923 1,462,937 Holton July 24, 1923 1,770,192 Bennett July 8, 1930 1,800,995 Gaunt A'pr. 14, 1931 2,380,459 Niesemann July 31, 1945 2,487,089 Anthea -1 Nov. 8, 1949 

